Patriot Missiles

A 4350-pound sedan should not look appropriate on a racetrack. Yet here we are, at the fittingly named Big track at Willow Springs, with the new SRT8 versions of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. These gloriously wide, big, bold, and heavy mechanical twins drip with unabashed swagger. If there's one truth, it's that they'll never be mistaken for anything plebeian.

Another truth we must discuss: These two still rely on the same five-speed automatic as their predecessors, and with this transmission come the complaints we've repeated in this space -- delayed response and disappointing shift quality. In its defense, the inexpensive transmission is a proven, hardworking unit, handling heavy power loads without limiting torque in lower gears. A newer unit is on the way -- we'd estimate in about two years.

Let's get back to driving. We arrived at the track after spending more than an hour on the mountain roads north of Los Angles and an endlessly straight freeway leading north to Mojave. Both cars feel ill-suited for the unpredictable nature of tight mountain roads, with their size doing little to aid confidence. The steering wheel feels precise and comes off center nicely, but it lacks a crucial bit of resistance, making it easy for your line to wander. More than once, the heavy-handed blind spot monitoring system rang its alarm because it didn't like how quickly we were approaching a guardrail. These two vehicles feel more comfortable on the straight and long; I couldn't help but long to cruise down a boulevard dimly lit by street lamps.

There, in brief moments, I could exercise the new muscle under the hood, a pushrod 6.4-liter V-8 whose output is a happily square at 470 horsepower and lb-ft of torque. Its delivery isn't lumpy or surprising -- the power is simply everywhere, such that a dyno chart could be drawn with a straightedge. You don't wait for a sweet spot in the powerband or a turbo to get on boost. No, you step on the throttle and get shoved forwarded by a guttural warrior call from the dual exhaust pipes, whose mufflers, under heavy throttle load, run straight. One complaint: The Charger's tachometer has an indicated redline, but the gauge is beveled in way that makes it nearly impossible to see.

I frequently see the limiter on the long and fast straights between Big Willow's nine turns; the SRT8s gobble up the 2.5 miles of track with glee. These straights do end, right as I'm reaching 125 mph, and here I start to think about weight. At a claimed 4350 pounds, these heavy cars ask much from their tires and brakes. Standard rubber is all-season Goodyear Eagle RS-A 2s, but our drive time was limited to the optional three-season Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar. Rotors are sized 14.2 inches front and 13.8 inches rear, both vented and slotted, and both capped with four-piston calipers wearing a Brembo badge. The combination works amenably, but wear will defiantly be an issue during extended use. The SRT folk may try, but you can't fight physics.

You shouldn't try to fight the car, either. At speed, the SRT8s demand patience and respect. New to the control arm front and multilink rear suspension are Bilstien shocks with adaptive dampening. In automatic mode, the shocks adjust themselves based on responses from a variety of sensors (speed, steering angle, throttle position, etc.). When you enter Sport mode, through the car's infotainment system, the dampers set to their highest rates. The suspension also contains the sole mechanical difference between the two cars: The 300 uses slightly softer spring rates and damping. The Charger's tuning is closer to that of the stiffer Challenger.

Initially, it feels as if you don't so much control them around a turn as you attempt to guide them, but once you've learned to be patient, they deliver deceiving velocity. You can carry more speed through corners than you anticipate, you can hold a higher gear. You have to build trust in these cars, but they don't bite when you ask too much. Thankfully, a sport mode in the ESC system, accessed by tapping the traction control button once, allows for heroic (and fearless) oversteer.

Buyers should still take note: The one-day lesson from the Richard Petty Driving Experience included with the purchase of your new SRT8 is time well spent. Against my expectations, time with a 4300-pound sedan at a racetrack was, too. Once you're accustomed to the size and potential, the SRT twins are a blast. Piloting a cruise missile probably would be too, for a bit.

cruzin4now........300s handle like toads? You need to look at the handling comparison #s and times between the 300 SRT8 vs the 550 BMW and the CL550 Benz`......Right on par bro!!! Too heavy? Then where and how would you cut down on the 300`s weight? The 300 is not supposed to be a sports car like a Vette, a Mustang or Camaro or handle quite as such. It is a 4 door sedan that rivals the Shelby GT500 for acceleration from 0 to 60 and in the 1/4 mile. The 300 is a combo touring sedan and muscle car sedan. Proper perspective helps.

The newly re-designed 300 is a gorgous looking car. It looks muscular without even moving. Now comes the hard part. Do I want the 2 door SRT8 6 spd Challenger or the 4 door SRT8 300? I noticed on the Chrysler site that they are using or will make available 8 speed trannys for the V6 300s. Perhaps I should be patient and wait to see if they will make an 8 spd trans available for the SRT8 300.

Two beautifully executed sedans, aimed at slightly different crowds. One is bold and brash, the other understated and elegant. Both amazingly powerful...and I wouldn't touch either of them with a ten foot pole because of that tranny. C'mon man! Two years for the 8 speed?! I've got an 08 with a 6 speed for crying out loud! So disappointing...

What's all the criticism about? Both of these cars are outstanding cars... Is the trans an issue? Of course, especially for a car that's in the territory(price wise) of 6 speeds or DCTs or MCTs... After final pricing, the price will not be less than 50k. It might be at 55k. These cars are no longer becoming bargain cars like they used to.I will say though that 300 is a monster. It's really gorgeous...

Repeat after me:Global warming is a myth, dependence on foreign oil does no harm to national security, there's nothing wrong with paying $100 for a fillup, and 14 miles-per-gallon fuel consumption is not at all insane.If you're still not convinced, you can rationalize that at least it's not as bad as a Hummer. And if that still doesn't work, just step on the pedal and allow the pleasure delivered by 390 cubic inches of hemi excess to make all logic and responsiblity irrelevant.

I could never be seen in Dodge Charger SRT8... the design is WAYYY too loud for my taste.... I love the previous model exterior design more....Gimme the previous exterior with this interior and im happy :)The 300 looks smooth !

That's funny, ram. I am a diesel mechanic and have seen many blown turbos but never once had a driver tell me it caught fire (they usually die after a run in extreme heat where the driver failed to provide a proper cool down,when pressed to make full boost before a proper warmup or some combination of the two) !! Gas turbos operate on the same principles (as diesels) and are certain to fail in the same manner.

No Brian10444, I have not driven a 2011 F-150. You would not see me near one. To Fugly. Have driven a 2010 with a 6 speed Auto and my old 05 5 speed with the 5.7 is just plain better at everthing. Mileage, power, smoothess and sound. Looks? Dodge owns the looks department as well. No one in there right mind needs any more than the 390 hp and 407 lb ft of torque the new 5.7 has. Wont ever touch a gas turbo as it will one day for sure be a fire hazzard. Will make the pinto seem like a safe car to drive.

ram150005: have you ever even driven a 2011 F-150? all 4 engines have best in class hp tq and fuel economy and it comes with a 6 speed transmission standard on all models the Ram's only good engine is the 5.7 HEMI and I think they should use their 6.2 or 6.4 HEMI to be competitive against the 6.2 BOSS in the 2011 F-150

GT-Keith:Sorry but I call em like I seem em and the F-150 in any trim or engine is half the pickup loaded or unloaded compared to the Ram, including my 2005. We have an 010 at work (F-150) and it is a P.O.S! Rough riding and lacks any kind of power and truth be told is the Fugliest truck on the planet right now.

variban... These are ESTIMATES... The old SRT8 put down those numbers with almost identical weight and less power soooo it's pretty safe to say the new SRT's should be at least a few ticks quicker. Also the R-spec is bland witha capital B. The SRT8's have style and swagger the knock-off Hyundai only wish it had. These cars are 3 speeds away from being great. it's also worth noting the R-spec has a 8 speed auto and M/T is the only mag that has cracked 5sec 0-60 others have 5.1-5.3.. Just saying.

Aug2010, the Genesis R-Spec 5.0 comes fully loaded. The only "option" that exists is swapping the all-seasons for some summer tires, not really an option.The Chrysler SRT8 starts at $47995. If that is fully loaded, then yes, price isn't an issue. It comes down to styling, brand preference, efficiency, and warranties. I just have a feeling that there might be a thing or two to tack on to the SRT8 in order to have the techologies/options similar.You're absolutely right about the torque. Why does the 6.4L have that much of a torque advantage but is unable to convert that to any real advantage as far as numbers go? They weigh within a few hundred pounds of each other, 4100 vs 4300. I wouldn't think that 94 lb/ft of torque would be that limited by 200lbs.

@Hawkwing It's already been established that the two don't compete. The 300C SRT8 is a high performance sedan and the Genesis R-spec is a luxury sedan with a sport package aimed at the 550i Sport, M56S and E550.

variabanI think you forgot to mention the torque numbers. That is where the real performance comes. The 6.4 has almost 100ftlbs more, at a much lower RPM, and it isn't near as peaky.Plus your summation of the price is a little off. The R-spec is $47,350. This is $47,995. I consider that close enough to be direct competitors.GmLexusH K:Only you have established that these cars arn't direct competitors. Everybody else looks as the base price and thinks they are.

Well, since Hawkwing started the trashtalk I guess it's ok to bring up other points:Seems like the specualation of the SRT8 slaughtering the Genesis 5.0 was B.S. MT estimates the SRT8 doing 0-60 in 4.8 seconds which is what the Genesis 5.0 did do, even though there is an extra 1.4L and 41hp. (Really, only 41 more hp out of a 6.4L V8?)But... Not only does the SRT8's price start where the Genesis R-Spec finishes off, the Chrysler/Dodge brand is also not as fuel efficient.I think more than just your mother will find interest in the Genesis R-Spec 5.0...

These cars have so much more character than the Genesis R Spec and they're priced almost identically. I would take the 300 over the Genesis no doubt, is there anyone who would take the Genesis? Maybe your mother?

Once again we have American cars being dinged for excessive weight even though Europe is shipping over all types of cars and SUVS that tip the scales at 4000lbs or more. These cars are too heavy? Really? 550i- 4400lbsE63- 4100lbsA7- 4100lbsS4- 3900lbsM5- approx 4400lbsX5M- 5000lbsPanamera turbo- 4100lbsYou are not going to find any lightweight full sized performance sedans or 4 door coupes. Any luxurious, sporty vehicle that can comfortably seat 4 and pack V8 power is going to weigh over 2 tons. If BMW cant deliver a lightweight M5 for DOUBLE the money of these cars why are the Chrysler products being criticized for weight?